The Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) hereby issues this ceasefire declaration to all commands and units of the New People’s Army (NPA) and people’s militia to take effect during the following periods:

12:01 am of December 24, 2014 to 11:59 pm of December 26, 2014;

12:01 am of December 31, 2014 to 11:59 pm of January 1, 2015; and

12:01 am of January 15, 2015 to 11:59 pm of January 19, 2015.

During the aforementioned days, all units of the New People’s Army and people’s militia are ordered to desist from carrying out offensive operations against units and personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine National Police and the various armed paramilitary groups attached to the Government of the Philippines (GPH).

This declaration is being issued in solidarity with the Filipino people in their observance of traditional holidays which coincides with the CPP anniversary celebrations on December 26.

This ceasefire declaration is also being issued in deference to the upcoming visit of Roman Catholic patriarch Pope Francis which the Filipino people look forward to as an opportunity for religious celebration and to raise outstanding issues such as military abuses and violations of human rights and children’s rights, Hacienda Luisita and widespread landlessness, poverty and exploitation of peasants and workers, bureaucratic corruption and government neglect of calamity survivors and the poor.

While this ceasefire declaration is in effect, all units of the NPA and the people’s militia shall remain in active defense mode. All commanders, Red fighters and militia should remain ever vigilant and alert against the treacherous encroachment of operating military troops and police personnel of the GPH into the territories of the people’s democratic government.

All units of the NPA and people’s militia must always be prepared to take the option of engaging the aggressive units of the enemy in self-defense in order to prevent them from committing acts of brutality and repression with impunity.

The people should likewise remain alert against the Aquino regime’s continuing campaigns of suppression under Oplan Bayanihan. The Aquino regime is using Pope Francis’ visit as pretext to deploy large numbers of armed troops to prevent the people from organizing and collectively expressing their national and democratic aspirations during the visit.